Chapter 4: Mad Scientist

"If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down."

Charles Darwin

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"What hit me?" Asked Shalimar as she slowly leaned forward.

"About half a car." Emma looked down at her friend. "Hey, you OK?" Shalimar winced as pain shot up her side.

"We I think my arm might be twisted." She looked around. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere in the Andes." She looked over at the new voice.

"Sorry I can't place the name." The girl smiled.

"Lisa Wolf." Shalimar nodded.

"Orions' sister."

"Yep."

"How do you know were we are?" Asked Emma. Lisa smile though no real joy was behind it.

"Taking into account the plane we were travelling on and flight time the distance was easy. Given to the slight shortness of breath, I'd be guessing we're in mountain range. Plus I had I little help." She tapped her head. "I'm a pre/post cognitive."

"Any chance we'll get out of here?"

"Opinions cloudy. Try again later."

"You're a regular eight ball." The girls laughed. They began to talk about clothes, boys and other things. Eventually the door opened and armed soldiers entered.

"Come with me." Said the leader. Shalimar stepped in front of the others.

"Or what." The lead soldier pressed a small button and all three collapsed in pain. Releasing the button the trio followed him as the other guards prodded them along with their rifles. As they entered a circular room they saw their friends.

"Shalimar. Emma. Are you OK?" Asked Adam. They both nodded.

"Were fine Adam. So is Lisa by the way." Adam looked at the young girl.

"I'm sorry It's just that these two are family." Lisa ignored him and scanned the room.

"Where's Orion?"

"We'll get to him soon enough." Molnar stepped forward into the light and sat down on a elevated chair. "For now let us discuss your futures."

"Go to hell."

"Now now Mr Mulwray. Behave yourself." Molnar turned to face Adam. "Mr. Kane, Your reputation as a biogeneticist precedes you. I have need of your services."

"Somehow I doubt I'll like the sales pitch." Molnar smiled as a jackal would while circling his prey.

"I think I can change your mind." A large monitor activated and Orion was seen chained to a metal grill.

"Orion!" The group watched in morbid fascination as a temperature scale in the bottom corner rose to eighty degrees before falling to minus ten then raising again.

"What do you hope to gain?" Adam was fighting to remain in control while his team watched the torture.

"Gain? I don't intend to gain anything. I intend to make the Major suffer. Unfortunately my own scientists do not fully understand his particular condition. This is way you will work for me."

"And if I refuse."

"Then he will die and I will start again on one of these other, individuals." The malevolence in his posture and voice was evident. Adams' shoulders dropped.

"Fine. I'll help you."

"Adam you can't."

"If I don't he's as good as dead Jesse." Molnar clapped his massive hands.

"Excellent. Now for the floor show. Follow me." He turned and left the room. The group was encouraged to follow. Molnar stepped through one final door into a heavily lit room. As the team entered they noticed the pit below them. A crowd had gathered around the top. Molnar sat at the raised chair and the team was forced to sit below him.

"Now let the show begin." The crowd erupted as a man was dragged into the centre of the pit. Molnar indicated for silence.

"Today we have a special treat. Major Orion Wolf of the American Special Forces will challenge no just one but six of my best warriors in combat." The soldiers entered the pit and began to circle the unmoving Orion. Slowly the first of them advanced and lashed out striking Orion and sending him tumbling. Noticing this all six pounced on him and began beating and kicking at their unmoving opponent. The crowd began to cheer sensing a kill.

"Enough!" Bellowed Molnar. "Stand him up." The soldiers hauled Orion to his feet and ripped back his head so he could see his tormentor. "Major I had expected better from someone of your calibre." Orion spat and looked up at Molnar with an insane grin.

"And give you the satisfaction. Never!"

"So you refuse to fight?"

"Well what do you know, you actually have a brain." Molnar laughed off the insult and indicated the captured members of Mutant X.

"I am the one in control Major. I have you and your friends as my prisoners, you're own government doesn't even know where you are."

"Control is an illusion."

" I tire off this, take him away." Molnar faced the group. "Take Mr. Kane to the lab the others can go back to their cells."

As Adam entered the lab he saw Orion strapped down. The guard at his back shoved him forward as Molnar entered.

"Doctor Mendez, is the patient ready?" An old withered man came forward.

"Yes sire. The subject is ready. We can begin whenever you are wish."

"What are you doing?" Demanded Adam. Mendez walked forward.

"Adam Kane, I must say it is an honour to finally meet you. I've followed your work for some time now." Molnar waved them off.

"Enough off this. Begin the procedure." Mendez nodded, turned and walked over to a computer terminal.

"Beginning the first stage of the procedure." An automated arm descended and extracted a small amount of blood from Orion. A second arm injected him with a clear substance. Adam walked over behind Mendez and watched the screen in grim fascination.

"Well Doctor."

"The original sample will provide the needed base and may also prove useful in determining his exact gifts and the DNA strands related to them. The compound has begun to take effect."

"Excellent. How long until complete cellular failure."

"My initial estimate is forty-eight hours however it could take nearly twice as long."

"Why?"

"His DNA is not as unstable as previous subjects."

"Very well." Molnar turned to Adam. "Mr. Kane, I expect you assist Doctor Mendez in his research."

"Do I have a choice?" Molnar laughed.

"Of course not." With that he turned and left. Adam turned to face Mendez who was now standing over Orion checking his vitals.

"What exactly did you inject him with doctor?" Mendez looked at Adam and saw a kindred spirit, all Adam saw was a delusional scientist.

"Miguel." Mendez walked over to the computer and brought up an image. "We've created an RNA sequence that locates and separates the new mutantcy from the rest of the subjects DNA."

"How effective is the procedure?"

"The time needed to remove the required strands varies from mutant to mutant."

"You've done this with others?" Mendez seemed to light up. He brought up different files.

"To date I've carried out the procedure on three new mutants. Feral, molecular and elemental. I understand there are two other psionics in the new batch. It will be interesting to see how they perform." Adam was intrigued by the research but something still bothered him.

"And how are the patients doing?" Mendez was confused.

"We don't have any patients."

"But you've had previous subjects?" He shrugged off the comment.

"They're all dead." Adam was shocked by the doctors uncaring attitude.

"But what good is the research." Mendez looked at Adam without any hint of malice.

"To create the perfect soldier." Adam froze unable to comprehend what Mendez was saying. "Why? What else could we do?"

"Cure them." Mendez cursed.

"Cure them! They're warriors. Your warriors. Do you not understand with this research we could create a new master race of soldiers, able to eliminate our enemies with ease."

"They weren't meant to be like this, it was a mistake."

"Maybe but we can use this to our advantage." Adam looked at Mendez with a new found hatred.

"You're mad!" Before Adam could strike Mendez a guard clobbered him with the butt of his rifle. Mendez looked at Adam.

"You don't realise what you have done do you? You've shown us the way forward into a new world." Adam was dragged off to his cell.

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Note: My understanding of genetics begins (and ends) at 'survival of the fittest' so if any of the science isn't possible, or mismanaged I'm sorry. If you do understand this subject (BSci or higher) then any help would be nice.

I know it's a story but I would actually like to be able to understand this subject (At least in basic terms).